A "Leadership" Challenge To:
Ministers, Teachers, Civic & Business Leaders, and Other Citizens
To safeguard humanity's long-term physical and spiritual health; please take an active and leadership role defending democracy and our life-support system. Democracy requires much more from citizens than merely voting and paying taxes—it requires oversight and a personal commitment at the grassroots level.
To get started, we suggest the following four areas of simultaneous action. Of course, as more citizens get involved and committees are formed to provide organization into each area, one must establish strict rules to eliminate conflicts-of-interest and allow for independent audits. Such openness and integrity will gain respect and acceptance from the community.
Please encourage citizens to question, research, and study population growth, urban sprawl, one's ecological footprint, and quality-of-life issues (especially U.S. population growth, consumption, and immigration policy). Invite knowledgeable speakers and organizations to give presentations to the community on these subjects; for example, The Audubon Society's Population and Habitat Program and Redefining Progress. Provide a forum for citizens to voice their findings and opinions to local, state, and federal officials.
Work with other citizens and nonprofit organizations to protect as much land as possible, now, before it's paved over with more roads, subdivisions, shopping malls, or a host of other development. To protect your community's water, soil, air, and quality of life; create farm trusts, nature preserves, wildlife areas, and parks. Work with farmers and other landowners to take advantage of government wildlife programs and financial incentives. Then, at the proper time, donate the development rights to a nonprofit organization and take advantage of income-tax incentives. Work with religious groups, conservation/environmental groups, hunting/fishing groups, and all others who appreciate the "comprehensive" benefits and spiritual value of God's creation.
Research what other communities are doing to challenge corporate "personhood" and political corruption. The following links provide an excellent start:
Corporate Personhood Resolution
Point Arena’s City Council, April 25, 2000
"Corporate Personhood Elimination and Democracy Protection Ordinance"
Porter Township, December 9, 2002
Reclaim Democracy's Corporate Personhood Resource
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy
Work with local schools and universities to provide a comprehensive education to students (especially reading and critical-thinking skills). Democracy's survival depends on citizens that can read well, think critically, and understand a complex world.
If the children . . . are untaught, their ignorance and vices will in future life cost us much dearer in their consequences, than it would have done, in their correction, by a good education.
—Thomas Jefferson